Paul McDonough, father of police officer Karl McDonough, who was killed while on duty in October when his patrol car was hit by an alleged drunk driver, reads messages written on a memorial keepsake handmade by fellow officers.

Paul McDonough replayed the scenario over and over in his head whenever he thought about his son, Officer Karl McDonough, working the graveyard shift for the El Paso Police Department.

He always imagined that if something were to happen to Karl, he would receive a visit from Police Chief Greg Allen and an assistant chief, who would tell Paul and Nancy McDonough the bad news.

Those images came true on Oct. 13, 2010.

Karl McDonough, 41, was killed about 1 a.m. that day at the intersection of Zaragoza Road and Saul Kleinfeld Drive when an alleged drunken driver ran a red light and hit the patrol car in which McDonough was riding.

McDonough's partner, Officer Rick Lopez, 39, who was driving the car, and McDonough were responding to a call when the crash happened.

About 15 years after the death of Paul and Nancy McDonough's youngest son, Paul Jr., they had lost another son.

"When they (Allen and his assistant chief) came to the door, the only thing I could say was 'My God, not again,' " Paul McDonough said, tears streaming down his face.

McDonough, a normally quiet and stoic Army veteran who fought in the Vietnam War, broke down and sobbed.

Karl McDonough, along with 26 other El Paso police officers who have died in the line of duty, will be remembered during the Police Department's annual police memorial service today.

Paul and Nancy McDonough, for personal reasons, said they will not attend.

Instead, they will remain at their East Side home, surrounded by memories of both sons they've lost.

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Paul and Nancy McDonough remember their son Karl, a graduate of Hanks High School, as a "mama's boy" who was always happy and "never met a stranger."

After graduating from high school, Karl McDonough enlisted in the Army and spent most of his time in Europe.

He decided to return to El Paso to be close to his parents, and after working at Epson El Paso for about three years, he decided to fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer.

He graduated from the El Paso Police Academy in 2007, and soon started working the graveyard shift, or the "third shift," at the Pebble Hills Regional Command Center, a shift he loved.

Each day before work, Karl McDonough visited his parents' home, often to raid their refrigerator and check on them.

Each day after work, he called them to let them know he made it home safely to his wife and young daughter.

To this day, officers who worked with Karl often stop by to say hello to Paul and Nancy McDonough and to tell them the third shift will never be the same.

Despite the visits and the warmth extended to them by Karl's fellow officers, Paul McDonough said his home will never be the same without Karl.

"This house is not a home anymore," Paul McDonough said. "There's no laughter, no joy."

A family rift after their son's death has also kept the McDonoughs from seeing their 4-year-old granddaughter, and that has made Karl's death even more painful for the couple, who have been together for 43 years.

"You walk in, I call it, nothingness," Paul McDonough said.

"You're a shell of a person. You're just wandering endlessly in your own grief."

Adriana M. Chávez may be reached at achavez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6117.

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